TODAY IS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY of the announcement that the Salk vaccine could effectively combat polio. If your memories don't run back to the 1950s, you can't even imagine what a huge victory that was over a crippling, killing childhood illness.

The Salk vaccine was developed by a private foundation, voluntarily funded. Sigh. How things have changed. Today, we can't cure hangnails without billions stolen by gummint.